Lit Comp Crucible Webquest

Introduction

Arthur Miller's The Crucible is a play that depicts the events of the Salem Witch Trials in Salem, Massachusetts during 1692. The events in the play center around a group of girls who become unexplainably ill after it is found out they dabbled in witchcraft in the woods with the minister's slave. Then the girls begin to blame others for their illness leading to the trials and people being arrested and hung because of these accusations.



Your job will be to find out more about the world during the time period and a little more about our new friend Arthur Miller.

Task

In your small groups, you are going to research the topic assigned to your group and answer the questions about that topic, this is where PowerPoint or Google Slides comes in. 

Then your group is to create a presentation (PowerPoint or Google Slides). Your presentation should include, but not be limited to, all of the answers to the provided questions. You do not have to use full sentences in your presentation.

On the other hand, you should have a Google Doc that will contain all the questions with answers using complete sentences.



In your presentation you will need to answer all of the questions, include some pictures (3-5), a video (make sure it is appropriate for school and no longer that 1/2 your presentation, probably a minute or two)  it should be neat and organized (this means we should be able to read it once it is on the board). Remember, you will be teaching the class about your topic so we can gain a better and deeper understanding before we begin the play.



I expect all members of your group to help answer questions, research answers, help create the presentation, and help give the presentation. This is a group assignment meaning everyone works together, not just one person does the work and the others watch.

When everything is done, make sure you share your slideshow and your questions with me. 



These presentations will be given next week on Tuesday.

 

Topics:

  • Puritan Life
  • Arthur Miller
  • Salem Witch Trials
  • McCarthyism

Process

Puritian Life

Questions

  1. Who were the Puritans?
  2. What distinguished their faith from others of their time period?
  3. How did the Puritans view the Bible?
  4. What would happen to people if they opposed the Puritan's theological views?
  5. Why did they cross the Atlantic Ocean?
  6. Give several examples of typical Puritan beliefs.
  7. What sort activities were and were not acceptable to the Puritans as recreation?
  8. What did the Puritans believe about the devil and how did it influence their life?
  9. What were the Puritans encouraged to read and write?
  10. How tolerant were the Puritans of those who differed from their norms?

Websites to Answer Questions

https://www3.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/puritans.html

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcexh/musprv/nend/purplay/playidx.htm

http://www.reformedreader.org/character_of_an_old_english_puri.htm

http://www3.gettysburg.edu/~tshannon/hist106web/site15/bobs/puritanbeliefpage11.htm

 

Salem Witch Trials

Questions

  1. When did the Salem Witch Trials occur?
  2. What were the Salem Witch Trials?
  3. How did they kill people accused of witchcraft in Salem?
  4. How did all the trouble of the witchcraft trials begin?
  5. Why do you think that people were willing to believe the girls who accused so many people of being involved in witchcraft?
  6. What were some beliefs about witchcraft and witches people held in the past?
  7. What are some possible explanations for the Salem witchcraft trials?
  8. How long did the Salem witchcraft trials go on for?
  9. What sort of evidence was used to arrest accused witches?
  10. How did Cotton Mather’s book and Dr. Grigg’s opinion help to create the problem – and then make it worse?

 

Websites to Answer Questions

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/interactive/salem-interactive/

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SALEM.HTM

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/salem.htm

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/ASAL_CH.HTM

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SAL_ACCT.HTM

 

Arthur Miller

Questions

  1. How did the Wall Street Crash of 1929 impact Miller's family?
  2. What university did he attend?
  3. How did he earn money to go to school?
  4. When did he start writing?
  5. What awards has he won for his works? Be sure to name the two works and all of the awards he won for those works.
  6. What famous actress was he married to?
  7. What inspired him to write The Crucible?
  8. What happened when Miller was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee?
  9. Describe the common themes of Miller's writings (pay particular attention to any references to The Crucible).
  10. How do you think Miller viewed the function of drama?

 

Websites to Answer Questions

https://www.biography.com/people/arthur-miller-9408335

http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/miller-mccarthyism.html

http://www.ibiblio.org/miller/life.html

 

McCarthyism



Questions

  1. What fear dominated American society in the 1940s and 50s?
  2. Who is Joseph McCarthy?
  3. What is McCarthyism?
  4. What did Joseph McCarthy do that caused mass hysteria?
  5. What was the House of UnAmerican Activities Committee?
  6. What were at least three of the consequences should a person be found guilty of communism?
  7. What happened to Senator McCarthy as a result of his accusations
  8. What was Arthur Miller’s involvement with McCarthyism?
  9. In May 1957, what was Arthur Miller found guilty of?
  10. What happened to people who were Blacklisted by the HUAC?

Websites to Answer Questions

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/arthur-miller-mccarthyism/484/

http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/joseph-mccarthy

http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/schrecker-blacklist.html

Evaluation

Refer to your rubric to make sure you have covered everything that needs to be done in order to get a good grade!